As a music teacher for twenty-seven years I have always known that music touches the soul. It can break through all kinds of barriers to reach students in a very special way. It can be the means for each child to find their light.
A few years ago I was blessed with the opportunity to teach pre-school students one afternoon a week. One of my most memorable students was Vanessa. She was five years old, had difficulty walking and could not speak. We mostly sat on the floor for our music lessons and Vanessa liked to sit on my lap. One of her favorite songs was John the Rabbit. It was a call and response song where I sang the call and the students clapped two times while singing the repeating phrase “Oh yes!” Vanessa liked to put her hands together with mine and clap with me. We performed that song during every class Vanessa and I clapped together. She never said or sang a word.
One day late in the school year when the song was finished Vanessa turned around, looked at me in the eye, clapped her tiny hands two times and said the words “Oh yes!” I opened my mouth and could not speak. Through music we had made a connection.
Several years later I came across Vanessa on the street in town. I stopped my car and waved to say hello. She waved back with a big smile on her face and then clapped her hands two times mimicking the song we had performed in our music class. This precious little girl through her connection with music left an impression on me that will last forever.
Every child has the ability to learn and grow. It is up to us educators to discover the way to reach each and every one of our students. We all must find each child’s light.The author thinks music__________.
A.can make children calm down | B.can connect heart to heart |
C.is difficult for pre-school students | D.is a good means to find a job |
According to the second paragraph Vanessa_________.
A.got used to singing songs | B.was too shy to speak |
C.was the youngest in the class | D.enjoyed the author’s class |
When Vanessa spoke the words “Oh yes!” the author felt________.
A.surprised | B.happy | C.frightened | D.satisfied |
What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
A.The author has been in touch with Vanessa for several years. |
B.Vanessa became as healthy as other children. |
C.The song made a deep impression on Vanessa. |
D.Being a good educator became Vanessa’s dream. |
Singles Day (光棍节)falls on every November 11th, and as the name suggests, this holiday is one specially for people who are still living the single life. It’s surprising that China is the only country in the world that has set up a special day for singles to celebrate(庆祝) their lives. To find out more about this celebration, read on.
An old story goes that once there were four single men, leading very boring lives. None of them were married, or had lovers, or did anything exciting. They just sat around all day and played Mahjong(麻将).
One day they played Mahjong from 11 in the morning until 11 at night. During the game, no matter who won, the winning card was always the 'Sitiao' card. And that day happened to be November 11th. In order to remember the day, they called it Singles Day.
For breakfast on Singles Day, singles often eat four youtiao, which means the four "ones" in "11.11". Many singles also choose to say goodbye to their single lives on this day. So they take part in 'blind date' parties , trying to find someone they love and many people choose to marry on this day. Besides the meaning 'single', the four 'ones' of the date can also mean 'only one' as in 'the only one for me.' Some people will use this date and this meaning to tell their special someone that they are the only 'one' in their heart.__________ first called November 11th Singles Day.
A.The Chinese government |
B.People who have been married |
C.Four people playing Marjong |
D.People who don’t want to get married |
The Chinese meaning of the word “'blind date' parties” in this passage is “________”.
A.盲人聚会 | B.相亲会 |
C.化妆舞会 | D.盲人党派 |
Singles often have ________ for breakfast on Singles Day.
A.some bread | B.noodles |
C.4 youtiao | D.nothing |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Singles Day is on November 11th. |
B.Singles Day is celebrated by no countries but China. |
C.Singles Day is for people who don’t have lovers. |
D.To celebrate Singles Day, people play Marjong from from 11 in the morning until 11 at night. |
When does music in public places become noise pollution?
You may like at least some kind of music. But the problem is that, in lots of places, you’re made to hear somebody else’s choice in music. Say you’ve just landed at an airport. At the airport, the “background” (背景)music may be played loudly.
When you are on the way to your hotel, there may be another kind of music played by the taxi driver. Then you finally reach your hotel. But when you are taking the elevator(电梯),there is elevator music.
You go out to dinner and end up in a place where the owner of the restaurant thinks music will help make you eat more and spend more. Then a person playing the violin comes around. This is called the “music wallpaper”. It is to make you buy more and eat a lot. Even the government thinks this is “noise pollution,” especially when the music is too loud.
Noise pollution may be bad for our hearing. It’s also bad for some of our daily activities, such as sleeping, conversations and so on.
The fact that you can’t see, taste or smell it may help explain why it has not received as much attention as other kinds of pollution, such as air pollution or water pollution. The air around us is always filled with sounds, but most of us would not think we are surrounded(包围) by noise. This can be bad for our health. So many people like soft and quiet music in their house. In the restaurant, the music is to make you _____________.
A.have a nice meal |
B.eat more food and spend more money |
C.enjoy some wonderful music |
D.have a great time in the restaurant |
This passage doesn’t talk about ___________.
A.food pollution | B.water pollution |
C.air pollution | D.noise pollution |
Music in public places becomes noise pollution because __________.
A.it’s played at the airport |
B.it’s played by the taxi driver |
C.it’s played when you are taking the elevator |
D.you are made to hear someone else’s choice in music |
From the passage we know that ___________.
A.music that is too loud is bad for our health |
B.people pay as much attention to noise pollution as they do to air pollution |
C.people like loud music in their house |
D.most people think that there’s lots of noise around us |
London has held two Olympic Games , in 1908 and 1948, with a third one in 2012. The thirtieth Olympic Games will make London the first city to have held the modern Games of three Olympics and it’s the only city in the United Kingdom to have ever held the Olympics.
The Games will start on 27 July local (当地的)time, which is 28 July Beijing time. And it will end on 12 August. Athletes (运动员) from different countries and areas will take part in 300 events(比赛项目) and have a good time.
When talking about London Olympic Games, “London Bowl” is often mentioned(提及). It is not the bowl that Londoners use to eat during the Olympics, but the main place where athletes take part in the games.
Do you still remember “You and Me”, the theme song(主题曲) of the Beijing Olympic Games ? For the London Olympic Games, you will hear another song called “Passion”(激情) .
The Olympic Games will begin in 2 months, but the ticket price is still unknown. It’s said that half of the tickets will be less than 20 pounds each. So would you like to go?The 2012 London Olympic Games is the __________ Olympic Games.
A.27th | B.28th | C.29th | D.30th |
The London Olympic Games will start on ___________ local time.
A.27 June | B.28 July |
C.27 July | D.12 August |
From the passage we know that ______________.
A.London has held 3 Olympic Games before |
B.London Bowl is the bowl Londoners use to have meals |
C.There are 300 events in the 2012 London Olympic Games |
D.The ticket price of London Olympic Games is less than 20 yuan each |
The best title of the passage is ___________.
A.The History of Olympic Games |
B.How To Win The Olympic Games |
C.London Olympic Games |
D.The Athletes in London Olympic Games |
French Presidents(总统)
Name |
Time for being president of France |
Charles de Gaulle |
8 January, 1959 – 28 April, 1969 |
Georges Pompidou |
20 June, 1969 – 2 April, 1974 |
Valéry Giscard d´Estaing |
27 May, 1974 – 21 May, 1981 |
Francois Mitterrand |
21 May, 1981 – 17 May, 1995 |
Jacques Chirac |
17 May, 1995 – 16 May, 2007 |
Nicolas Sarkozy |
16 May, 2007— 7 May, 2012 |
Francois Hollande |
7 May, 2012 — |
Georges Pompidou became president of France on ____________.
A.8 January, 1959 | B.2 April, 1974 |
C.20 June, 1969 | D.17 May, 1995 |
According to the chart(表格), ______ was president of France for the longest time.
A.Valéry Giscard d´Estaing | B.Jacques Chirac |
C.Francois Mitterrand | D.Charles de Gaulle |
According to the chart, we know that Nicolas Sarkozy .
A.won’t be the next president of France |
B.was president of France for 6 years |
C.became president of France on 7 May, 2012 |
D.was a very successful president |
People give gifts on many occasions. At weddings(婚礼),people give gifts such as tea sets and tableware (餐具). When someone has a baby, people express their wishes by giving gifts of baby clothes and food.
In western countries, food and drinks are the most traditional gifts for friends. For example, a bottle of champagne is perfect for Christmas. In some Asian countries like China and Japan, tea and wine are common gifts. Greeting cards are excellent gifts for friends and family around the world.
Here are some popular gifts for Christmas and New Year. Let’s have a look.
A message in a bottle—If you want to send a birthday message or a thank- you note, why not write on a piece of paper and put it inside a glass bottle? The person who receives this special gift will remember the words forever.
A Christmas stocking—People will look forward to seeing it each Christmas. It is a very traditional and useful Christmas gift. Many people hang the stocking up in their rooms as a decoration.
A necklace (项链) with a name—This is a special and popular gift among mothers and young people. For example, a mother can put her child’s name on the necklace. It seems that the necklace can bring her child close to her heart.If your friend Lisa has a new baby, you may sent____.
A.school things |
B.tea sets and table ware |
C.baby clothes and food |
D.birthday cards |
From the passage we learn champagne is a kind of____.
A.drink | B.food |
C.card | D.furniture |
____are common gifts in some Asian countries.
A.Excellent books | B.Tea and wine |
C.Greeting cards | D.Thank-you notes |
Mrs. Green likes the necklace with her child’s name because____.
A.it can bring good luck to her |
B.it is a traditional and useful gift |
C.it is a fashionable gift for parents |
D.it may make her child close to her heart |
Please choose the best title for this passage____.
A.Choose a perfect present |
B.How to celebrate New Year |
C.How to celebrate Christmas |
D.The festivals in China |